Loose-leaf binder



Dec. 5, 1950 Filed July 11, 1944 '3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 5, 1950 H. A. CHERRY LOOSE-LEAF BINDER '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1944 Dec. 5, 1950 H. A. CHERRY LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed July 11. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Harold Arthur Cherry, Northfield, Birmingham,

England, assignor to Kalamazoo Limited, Birmingham, England Application July 11, 1944, Serial No. 544,357 In Great Britain August 5, 1943 2 Claims.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders of the kind in which a pair of covers are interconnected by tongs and in which one or each of the covers is movable relatively to the thongs for releasing or securing the interposed leaves. The object of the invention is to provide improved means for securing the covers.

In the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings:

Figure 1 is a front end View (with the covers spread apart), and Figure 2 is a corresponding part sectional lower end view, of a loose leaf binder embodying the invention. 1

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front view illustrat ing to a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2 the securing means combined with one of the covers of the binder.

Figures 4, and 6 are sections taken respectively on the lines 4-4, 5-5 and 66 of Figure 3.

Figures '7 and 3 are respectively a sectional side view and a part sectional plan illustrating to a larger scale than Figures 3 to 6 a modified detail associated with the securing means.

Figures 9 and are respectively similar views to Figures '7 and 3 illustrating another modified detail associated with the securing means.

In Figures 1 and 2, I indicates the covers, and 2 the loose leaves, of the binder, the rear edges of the leaves being provided in the usual manner with slots or holes through which pass a pair of thongs 3 whereby the covers are interconnected.

In applying the invention to each cover I, I employ a longitudinal metal bar 3 adapted to be secured at its ends in a recess 5 in the inner side of the cover, the bar being adapted to lie between and parallel with the thongs 3 which extend into the said recess through holes 6 in a metal reinforcing strip 7 secured to the rear edge of the cover. For interconnecting the 'ends of the thongs 3 within the recess 5, I employ a metal cross bar 8 arranged at right angles and adapted to slide relatively to the longitudinal bar 4. Preferably and as shown the cross bar 8 is constructed from sheet or strip metal pieces arranged to form between them (at least at the center of the cross bar) a space for accommodating gripping means whereby the cross bar can be secured to the longitudinal bar 4. In constructing such gripping means I mount in the said space and alongside each of the upper and lower edges of the longitudinal bar 4 a member 9 having a portion is of its inner edge inclined relatively to the adjacent edge of the member 9.

longitudinal bar. In each of the spaces bounded by the inclined edge portions it of the members 9 and the adjacent edges of the longitudinal bar 4 is inserted a roller H, and this is urged in one direction by a spring [2 which acts on the roller through the medium of a headed pin I3, the latter serving to carry the spring, and being slidably mounted in a bore M in the corresponding Ihe members 9 are secured together and provided with a limited freedom of sliding movement relatively to the cross bar and parallel with the longitudinal bar 3 for the purpose to be hereinafter described. As shown the members 9 are secured together by sheet metal pieces l5 which flank opposite sides of the longitudinal bar 4, and which are formed at their inner sides with projections as It adapted to engage the adjacent ends of holes as I! in the said members. On the outer ends of the members 9 is pivoted a finger lever l8, this being in the form of a flap which can be closed down compactly on the outer surface of the central portion of the cross bar 8. Moreover, I mount on the longitudinal bar 4 a sheet metal slide [9 which passes beneath the central portion of the cross bar 8. One end of the slide I9 is turned upwards and inwards and is shaped to form tongues 20 adapted to press the rollers l 1 against the action of their loading springs l2 out of their normal positions in which they exert a wedging action on and interlock the members 9 and the longitudinal bar 4. The other end of the slide i9 is also turned upwards and inwards and is shaped to form a lip 2! adapted to be engaged by the finger lever l8. Further, the pivoted end of the finger lever I9 is shaped to form a cam or cams 22 which by interaction with an abutment or abutments 23 on the cross bar 8 can move the cross bar relatively to the members 9.

Although it is preferred to combine a mechanism as above described with each of the two covers of the binder, such a mechanism may be combined with one cover only if desired.

Assuming the binder above described is in the condition in which the levers 2 are secured between the covers I, and it is required to release the leaves, the finger lever N5 of the mechanism (or of either of the mechanisms when two are used) is raised. This causes the slide is to be moved in the direction for releasing the rollers H. The cover I carrying the mechanism can now be moved outwardly relatively to the thongs 3 for releasing the leaves 2. To re-secure the leaves 2, the cover I is returned to its initial position and the finger lever I3 is then folded down on to the cross bar 8, thereby enabling the rollers II to interlock the cross bar and the longi tudinal bar 4. In the final stage of this movement of the lever is its cam or cams 22 interacts or interact with the abutment or abutments 23 on the cross bar 8 and, by causing the cross bar to slide relatively to the members 9, imposes an extra tension on the thongs 3, thereby setting up a supplementary pinching action on the 3 leaves 2, and enabling the latter to be more tightly secured than would otherwise be possible, To hold the finger lever it against accidental movement out of its folded position, the lip H on the adjacent end of the slide 19 is adapted to bear on the inner end of the finger lever when the members 9 and the slide occupy appropriate relative positions, Also any convenient spring means may be employed for urging the members 9 and the slide i9 into such positions. Thus, a spring 25 in the form of a bent wire may be arranged between the slide l9 and one pair of adjacent ends of the members 9 at a position beneath the tongues 28, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Alternatively, or addition, the abutment or each abutment 23 on the cross bar 8 may be loaded by a spring 2%, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Preferably I interpose between the inner edge of each cover I and the leaves 2 a separate clamping bar 27 (Figures 1 and 2) such as is ordinarily used in binders of the type to which the invention relates, the securing action being then exerted by the covers on the leaves through the medium or the clamping bars.

The invention is not limited to the example above described as subordinate details may be varied. Thus, whilst I prefer to provide a grip ping roller at each edge of the longitudinal bar, only one such roller may be used if desired. Also instead of a roller at one or each edge of the said bar I may provide a ball or a slidable Wedge piece, or a rockable cam piece or any equivalent device which can set up a frictional grip between the cross bar and the longitudinal bar.

By this invention, I am able to provide a coversecuring mechanism for the covers of binders of the type specified in a very simple and convenient form.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for securing the covers of a loose leaf binder of the kind specified, comprising the combination with at least one of the covers, of a longitudinal bar secured to the cover, covertightening thongs arranged parallel with said longitudinal bar, a cross bar attached to said thongs and slidable relatively to said longitudinal bar, at least one member carried by and capable of a limited amount of transverse sliding movement relatively to said cross bar, said member being formed with an inclined edge at a position alongside said longitudinal bar, spring-loaded frictional gripping means situated between and co-operating with said inclined edge and the adjacent edge of said bar, a slide mounted on said longitudinal bar and provided at one end with an inwardly directed projection for acting on and releasing said gripping means when said slide is moved in one direction, an abutment on the other end of said slide, a second abutment on said cross bar, and a finger lever pivoted to said member and movable about its pivot axis into and out of a normal position in which it is folded over said cross bar, said lever being shaped and arranged so that when moved out of its normal position it serves by acting on the first mentioned abutment to actuate said slide for releasing said gripping means, and when returned to its normal position it serves to move said cross bar relatively to said member for the purpose of exerting a supplementary pinching action on the leaves of the binder.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, in which the abutment on said slide has the form of a lip arranged to bear on said finger lever and thereby prevent accidental movement of said finger lever out of its normal position, and in which spring means are provided for opposing movement of said finger lever with the member to which it is pivoted in the direction for disengaging said finger lever from said lip.

HAROLD ARTHUR CHERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 979,673 Impey Dec. 27, 1910 1,247,047 Wigginton Nov. 20, 1917 1,258,383 Wigginton Mar. 5, 1918 1,530,155 Cooper Mar. 17, 1925 2,165,060 Krug July 4, 1939 2,167,685 Scherzinger Aug. 1, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 285,997 Great Britain 1928 

